Actuator for traffic-signals



J. M. MIDDLEBROOKS.

ACTUATOR FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1919.

1,339,660. Patented y 11,192

fizz ado! JAMEs M. MrnDLEnaoo s, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

ACTUATOR FOR TRAFFIC-SIGNALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma i, 1920.

Original application flIedOctOber 1, 1918, Serial No. 256,409. Divided and this application filed February 21, 1919. Serial No. 278,462.

actuator for motor vehicle'trafiic signals, being a division of mygending-application rial No. 2563, 109.

The invention has as its primary object to provide an actuator which maybe operated with easefor controlling a signaling device connected therewith to selectively display a number of different signals.

The invention-has as a further object to provide an actuator employing'a vertically movable actuating sleeve for operating the signal and wherein said sleeve will be equipped with means for automatically locking the sleeve in vertically adju'stedposition.

And the invention has as astill further object to provide an actuator which -may, without'difiiculty, be readily connected with substantially any conventional type of motor vehicle.

Other and incidental objects will appear hereinafter. fnthe drawings:

Fi ure 1 is aivertical sectional view of p I I my improved actuator,

Fig. 2 is a perspect'ive'view of the signal for which-the present actuator is particularly designed,'- this signal-formingthe subjectniatter of my-pending' application referred to,

Fig. 3.is ajtransverse sectional View taken on the line 33 oflFig. 1 and looking in the direction .ofthe arrows, V

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line l-l ofFig. 1 and looking inthe direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing one of the catch receiving notchesin the standard of the actuator.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ an upstanding tubularp'ost or standard' 10 designed to be mounted adjacent the forward end of a vehicle nearthe drivers seat. In Fig. 1, the forwardportionofthe vehicle floor is'indicated at 11. The post is inclined rearwardly of'the vehicle toward.

ctober 1, 1918,- senaling device.

the drivers seat and, at its lower end is threadedthrough a floor plate 12 disposed beneath the floor 11. Loosely fitted over the post and resting against-the upper face of the floor is-asimilar plate 13 and connecting these plates are boltsor other suitable -fastening devices 14 extending through the floor. :The post will thus be rigidly secured 'matter of my pending application referred to. The present actuator is particularly designed for use in connectionwiththis sig- However, the actuator may, of course, be employed for operating other signals for which it maybe adapted.

Slidably fitting over the post 10 is a sleeve .19 upon the upper end of whichis threaded a cap 20. Fixed to this cap axiallythereof "is a handle 21 sothatthe handlemay be turned for rotating the sleeve and, aswill now be observed, the forwardend portion of the cable 17 is led from the pulley '16 through the post 10 and is connectedat its adjacent end to the handle; Formed in the post, at suitably vertically spaced points thereon are substantiallytriangular shaped notches 22 and 23 respectively. Spaced above the notch 23 and invertical alinernent therewith is aslot 24. At the lower edges of the notches 22 and 23 are defined shouldi. rs or ledges 25 andthe side walls of these notches converge upwardly from said ledges to provide upwardly inclinedbeveled shoulders 26 merging intothe peripheral face of the post. liiveted or otherwise connected at one end to the sleeve 19 is a spring catch 27 bent, adjacent its free end at substantially right angles to be freely received through a slot in-the sleeve. :The free end of the catch will thus bear against the peripheral faceof the post to ride thereover'as the sleeve is shifted vertically upon the post.

As will now be, clear, when the handle 21 of the sleeve 19 is grasped and the sleeve lifted upon the post 10, a corresponding pull will be communicated to the cable for operating the signal 18. In thisconnection, it

may be briefly stated thatthe signal 18 includes a rotatable spring returned character drum to which the cable 17 is operatively connected and which carries a. plurality of signals comprising successively the words WVatch, Stop, Left, Right, the signal Watch beingnormally displayed opposite the display opening in the casing and the remain ing signals being adapted to be selectively brought opposite said opening into position for display. Consequently, by lifting the sleeve 19 to engage the catch 27 with clined shoulders 26 of said notch. Therefore, continuedupward lifting of the sleeve by the handle 21 will serve to ride the catch over. said shoulders onto the peripheral face of the post 10 so that the sleeve may be elevated to engage the catch with the ledge of the notch 23.. The character drum of the signal will then be'rotated to display the signalLeft opposite the display opening of the signal casing Continued upward lifting'of the sleeve will then serve to ride the catch over theshoulders 26 of the notch 23 so'that the sleeve may be elevated to engage the catch within the slot 24 of the post, when the character drum of the signal will be rotated to display the signal Right opposite the display opening of the signal casing.

The sleeve may thus be readily actuated from the drivers seat to operate the signal forgivinga signal of an intention of the driver to stop or to turn either tothe left The slot 24 is provided so that or right. the catch 27 may engage therein for, limiting the sleeve in itsupward movement upon the post. However, the end walls of this slot are beveled like shoulders 26 of the notches 22 and 23 and the free end of the catchwhen engaged within the slot will abut these end walls. Consequently, by slightly rotating the sleeve in either one direction or the other the catch will ride over a corresponding end wall of the slot onto the peripheral "faceof the post when the sleeve may be of the post.

lowered to its normalposition abutting at Since the character drum of the signal 18 is spring returned, the drum will, when the sleeve is thus lowered, be counter-rotated to its normal position displaying the pilot signal lVatch opposite the display opening of the signal casing This pilot signal is employed in order that attention may be directed to the si naling device. Should the catch 27 be engaged in either of the notches 22 or 23, the sleeve 19 may be slightly rotated in either direction.

As particularly 11121 be lowered the post;

' ated for rotating the character drum of the signal 18 to give any desired signal and may then be released and lowered to permit the counter-rotation of the drum to its normal position. I accordingly provide a particularly efiicient type of actuator while, at the same time, the device is characterized by extreme simplicity and may, as-will be, appreciated inv view of the preceding description, be readily connected without difliculty .to substantially anyconventional type of motor vehicle.

Having thus described; the invention,

wh at is claimed as new is:

element connected with said sleeve, and means carried by the sleeve and'adapted .to selectively coop'erate with said ledges for position upon the post. 1

2. An actuator of the character described including a post, vertically spaced ledges formed thereon, a sleeve slidably adjustable supporting the sleeve in vertically adjusted vertically upon the post, a flexible actuating element; connected with said sleeve, and

means carried by the sleeve and adaptedto selectively cooperate with said ledges for supporting the sleeve invertically adjusted position upon thepost, the sleeve being rotatable for disengaging said means from any one of said ledges whereby'the. sleeve to normal position ,upon

3. An actuator of the character described including a post, a' ledge formed thereon,

a shoulder inclining from the ledge to the periphery of the post, a sleeve slidably adjustable vertically upon the post, a flexible actuating element connected with said sleeve, and meanscarried by the sleeve and engageable with said ledge for locking'the sleeve in vertically adjusted position upon the post, said means being adapted to ride over said shoulder wherebythe sleevemay be raised upon the post. I its lower end with the upper floor plate 13 &. An actuator of the character-described including a post, a ledge carried thereby,

beveled shoulders at opposite ends of said by the sleeve and engageable with said ledge for locking the sleeve in vertically adjusted position upon the post, said means being adapted to ride overeither of said shoulders whereby the sleeve may be rotated to disengage said means from the ledge to permit the lowering of the sleeve;

5. An actuator of the character described including a post provided with a notch therein defining a ledge having shoulders inclining from the ends thereof to the periphcry of the post and beveled to present flat faces leading to the periphery of the post at the ends of the ledge, a sleeve slidably adjustable vertically upon the post, a flexible actuating element connected with said sleeve, and means carried by the sleeve and engageable with said ledge for locking the sleeve in vertically adjusted-position upon the post said means being adapted to ride upwardly over said shoulders onto the periphery of the post whereby the sleeve may ture.

JAMES M. MIDDLEBROOKS. a s.] 

